Overview of Clinical Complications of Diabetes

Diabetes control and complications trial

The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, a landmark 10-year study, demonstrated that people who lowered their blood glucose concentration have a better chance of delaying or preventing complications that affect the eyes (retinopathy), kidneys (nephropathy), and nerves (neuropathy). Two groups of patients with type 1 diabetes were studied. One group followed a standard treatment regimen and the other group followed an intensive treatment regimen. People who lowered their blood glucose levels practiced the intensive treatment regimens that included careful self-monitoring of glucose, multiple daily insulin injections, and close doctor contact.

What are the clinical complications associated with diabetes?

Clinical complications associated with diabetes may include the following:

Cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease, in many cases, is caused by atherosclerosis—an excess buildup of plaque on the inner wall of a blood vessel that restricts the flow of blood. Heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths. Heart disease and stroke are two to four times more common in people with diabetes.

Hypertension. High blood pressure affects as many as two out of three people who have diabetes.

Dental disease. Periodontal (gum) disease occurs with greater frequency in people with diabetes.

Retinopathy or glaucoma (eye disease or blindness). Blindness due to diabetic retinopathy is a more important cause of visual impairment in younger-onset diabetic people than in older-onset diabetic people. Males with younger-onset diabetes generally develop retinopathy more rapidly than females with younger-onset diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults between ages 20 and 74.

Renal disease (kidney/urinary tract disease). Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a condition in which the patient requires dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to live.

Neuropathy (nerve disease). Approximately 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of diabetic nerve damage. Severe forms of diabetic nerve disease are the major contributing cause of lower-extremity amputations.

Amputation. More than 60 percent of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations in the U.S. occur among people with diabetes.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is one of the most serious outcomes of poorly controlled diabetes, and primarily occurs in people with type 1 diabetes. DKA is marked by high blood glucose levels along with ketones in the urine.

What can prevent diabetes complications?

People with diabetes must stay alert for symptoms that can lead to clinical complications. The best way to do this is to:

Get regular checkups (Finding problems early is the best way to keep complications from becoming serious.)